Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 31, 2013 16:37:17 GMT -5
After she slipped past the guards outside her quarters, Syren didn't have much trouble making her way down through the castle. Her past attempts to escape had given her a good idea of where she was going, and while she had always gotten caught before, this time she managed to avoid the sporadic guards patrolling the castle, pressing herself into the wall as they passed and trying to make herself invisible; and surprisingly, it worked. She passed through one of the doors on the lower level unseen, and blinking against the harsh white light glinting off the snow, she found herself outside for the first time in weeks.
A kind of ecstatic joy seized in her chest, and she breathed deep of the frozen air...and immediately regretted it as she was then seized by an overwhelming need to cough. She held it in, scanning the area quickly, she realized that she was in the courtyard. There weren't many people there, as no one went out in the cold who didn't need to, and even the men patrolling on the wall were more interested in that might come from beyond the wall than what was inside it. Seizing her chance, Syren took off, ignoring the fact that the thick woolen dress they'd given her was hardly suited for the weather outside, or that the same could be said for the soft leather boots she wore. She was free! And she intended to make the best of it.
She'd overheard the King speaking to some of his men about a patrol of Summer Land soldiers near the castle; she didn't know where they were, exactly, but she was willing to take her chances. Her luck hadn't failed her yet, and as she escaped out the frozen gate, she smiled, her cheer and elation staving off the cold temporarily. But that didn't last long.
She was out of sight of the castle by the time the chill really started to seep into her bones, dragging her feet, she wrapped her arms around herself for warmth, unable to keep her teeth from chattering, snow flakes caught in her eyelashes and blurred her vision. Will power was the only thing that kept her on her feet, but even that didn't last long as the sun began to sink over the horizon, far earlier in the day than she was used to in Summer Land, and the temperature dropped even lower. She stumbled in the snow, and shivering, she found she lacked the energy to even get up, and she curled up at the base of large tree, the only shelter she managed to get herself to. Shadows danced in her vision before she lost consciousness, unable to stay awake any longer.
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 31, 2013 20:18:07 GMT -5
'She's gone.' "Bloody hell; man! She's just a little girl! How the fuck dose she keep getting past you?" Viktor looked up at the guard--one of many over many days since the princess had joined them that had tried and failed to keep track of her--and his tone was amused. Everyone in the room was feel humorous. They knew what was to come; the guard would be sent to the rooms with the children for the night; and everyone one would mock him for a while; until the next one lost the girl and a new target came around.
Yet an hour later; none had found her. And as the hour turned to two then three; Viktor wondered if she had not been testing them; and she had finally walked out. A short patrol found foot steps in the snow; single ones that lead away from the castle; but not completely south. Mounting horses; the men took off to attempt to find her. Artemis flew over head to look for any signs of trouble; and someone they managed not to find any.
Viktor began to worry. He wasn't even sure why the fuck he was worried about a spoiled little brat of a princess who didn't have the fucking common scene to not go out in the fucking snow but he did! He knew that a body could not survive out here long without proper traveling equipment. They had kept her sleeping and in a tent built for pulling in the snow. She had been warmed; and not aware of the dangers. Now she was out there; and he knew there was too much ground to cover. The snow had long since hidden her foot prints. Artemis screeched and drove low; diving down. The men moved to the shelter of the ever green trees; before they noticed the bird was not ducking to hide but circling a tree. Snow was falling now; and came up to his calves; but Viktor and the others pushed their way to the tree; to find a body there half buried into the snow. "Syren!"
She was frozen; and once he had her unburied; no amount of shaking could awaken her. "Get her in!" He yelled; and began removing her wet outer layers. Knowing the best way to warm a human was with the heat of another human; Viktor helped see her into the tent; then removed his own clothing down to nothing but his pant; and climbed in with her. While the men pulled them to the castle; He used his hands to attempt to warm her; rubbing her; touching her everywhere. "Come little Mage; open your eyes!" By the time they had arrived; she still had not awaken. They took her to the closest rooms; and the women blocked him from entering while they took to helping the girl. With the large wooden door shut in his face; Viktor stood there until the cold sent him looking for clothes.
Sometime later; when the princess was tucked into bed; and by some grand unknown had not lost a finger or toe to the cold; Viktor stood over the bed. "When she awakens; feed her; give her drink." He told one of the women who where tending Syren. "Then send for me." With one last look at her; he turned and left to seek his own bed. Everything had changed for him today; for he had discovered he did not like the thoughts of her death. Not sure what that meant; he was going to sleep and drink until he was again himself.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Jan 31, 2013 22:19:13 GMT -5
Her sleep was uneasy, and interrupted by the sound of a rough, familiar voice, accompanied by heat and the sensation of rough hands on her numb body. When she finally managed to open her eyelids, she was met with temporary confusion, surrounded by warmth and the dim light of a fire flickering nearby. She groaned, pushing herself up slowly, and a woman's chastising voice sounded from somewhere in the room. Syren fell back, just wanting to go back to sleep, but the woman was not sympathetic to the runaway, and dragged her out of bed, lecturing her on her foolishness before she could even ask what had happened.
She sent for food while she made the princess dress, wrapping a thick blanket around her shoulders, she sat her down at the table and had her eat a thick, tasteless soup, and drink a large tankard of something that was cold but felt warm going down. "Now you wait here while I fetch the king. He is not happy with you, my dove." She contemplated running away while she was gone to avoid getting yelled at, but she supposed that would just get her into more trouble. Instead, Syren took her tankard over to the fire, standing next to it and sipping the heavy beverage while she waited and hoping that the king was less angry than the old woman seemed to think. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Jan 31, 2013 23:00:33 GMT -5
The old maid came and told him that she was awake; and Viktor questioned her on how the foolish woman was; before going to seek her out. His foot steps fell heavy as he neared; and he paused outside the door for a moment to let his mind clear. He knew he never punished her for her actions; but today could have gotten someone killed. Her; his men; Artemis; anyone. She was trouble; and if he did not make an example of this moment; then his men would take note. Yet the memory of her cold body pressed to his; lifeless; made him wonder at what punishment he could give that was not something worse then what had been done to her.
He knew what it was like to freeze; to feel for days afterward that you would never be warm again. The cold so biting; that some men went mad and did things; that none could explain. One man removed his clothing; so mad from the cold he swore it warmed him. Pushing the door opened without a knock; Viktor entered and closed it sharply behind him. Looking around the room until his eyes found her; he walked over and stood there. "Did you have a nice walk?" He asked; his voice angry and low.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 1, 2013 0:29:49 GMT -5
She held the blanket the woman had wrapped around her close, sipping at the drink to warm herself and glad for the fire's warmth. She never wanted to go outside ever again; not out into that, at least. She had felt the life drain from all her limbs, the cold sapping her strength and taking away all her feeling. When she'd woken up, she'd been so startled to find that she still had arms and legs at all, and she'd been so glad to be alive. The old woman had given her an earful about her bad behavior, telling her about how the men had to go out to look for her in a snowstorm, and she was lucky not to have been eaten by a dragon.
She heard his footsteps pounding in the hallway before she jumped at the sound of the door banging open, flinching as he slammed it shut. So he was angry. She looked up to meet his gaze, and his voice, usually amused and light, was heavy with his apparent anger. Syren wasn't sure how to answer for a moment, her lips dry and chapped from the cold, she licked them before she tried to speak. "Not so much." [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 1, 2013 17:19:20 GMT -5
Not much. She looked like hell frozen over. "Good! Then the next time you get it in your pretty little head to do something foolish; you will remember this lesson!" She could have been killed; and he did not like the discovery on the results of what this would mean for him. "You could have died; one of my men could have died while looking for you; Artemis could have been killed! You seem fond of her; maybe that will be the life you try to spare next time? As it is; you owe your life to her. She found you. The patrol would have missed you half covered int he falling snow." The bird's reward had been great; he had given her no end of meat and a warm fire upon return.
He reached up to pinch the bridge of his noise for a moment; then dropped his hand to again look at her. "You will be thinner clothing; and no cloak or coat. If you continue to test my men we will remove your boots from you and let your toes turn black and freeze." He was not sure if his words came from trying to keep his men safe; or her safe. "The only reason you are in this room and not in the cold cells is because you are too damn weak at the moment; after nearly freezing." He knew he should tell her that next time they would stay warm by the fire and let her die; but he learned that he could not sit by. Not with her. Whatever she was to him; this fondness he did not like; he planned to end it. Soon.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 1, 2013 21:38:34 GMT -5
She looked away from him, down into the fire, as he spoke of her foolishness. That seemed to be a topic of much discussion lately. Honestly, she hadn't even thought of how the cold would kill her outside. It was never cold in Summer Land, how could she have even contemplated what the cold was truly like here? She had imagined it couldn't be much colder outside than it was inside, but she had been wrong. She didn't know what cold was before... but she could no longer claim that was true.
She didn't know what she could say as he listed off all the people who had been at risk; his life, his men...the guards she'd grown fond of despite how she kept humiliating them (after all, they did keep forgiving her for it), and even the bird. He thought she'd prize Artemis' life above all the others? She didn't try to correct him, though... it hurt to talk. "I'm sorry," her voice rasped, even though she spoke barely above a whisper, the cold having made it rough.
He explained the new rules she would live with, and she didn't even consider being defiant, or arguing. Maybe she would later... but right now, she just didn't want to. He said that she was too weak for the cells, and she felt it. Her bones felt cold, and even with the heat from the fire and the blankets, it seemed like the cold was deep inside her, like it would never go away. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 1, 2013 22:59:10 GMT -5
Her lack of augment was taking the wind from his sails. It was hard to yell at a woman who just sat there and agreed with you! Damn her! She could not even let him be angry; and raise his voice without making he feel guilty. Viktor just stared at her for a long moment; and tried to not ask the one question on his mind. However; with her lack of will; or strength in defying him; there seemed to be nothing else he could say.
He asked it with a reluctant voice; not quite liking that he felt the need to ask. "Are you well? Are you injured?" He had found her in time? The maid had said nothing of any damage; but he still wanted to hear the words spoken fro her for himself. She had been many hours in the cold; she would be lucky if she did not become ill from her trip.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 1, 2013 23:36:25 GMT -5
She sipped from her tankard slowly as he stared at her, wondering where all his anger had gone. It seemed to be leached out of him by her pathetic apology, and while she knew she should be glad, it only made her feel guiltier. It might be better if he could muster up the will to yell and scream at her for hours, she might feel better at least, instead of this sick feeling. Instead, he came out with concern. She was a little surprised, to be honest.
He was concerned? For her? Why did he care if she was well, or injured? She had done nothing but defy him at every opportunity, and had he not said this was her deserved lesson? Did he actually care for her well-being. She nodded. The woman earlier had said she was lucky; she still had all her fingers and toes. She said she knew a boy who had lost an entire ear to the cold, but apparently, the men had gotten to her before anything more than hypothermia could set in. "I'm fine," she croaked, although she didn't really feel it. She was just echoing the old woman's claims that she would suffer no lasting ill effects. She was lucky. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 3, 2013 15:08:05 GMT -5
Viktor nodded; she was fine. She looked like hell; but he had thought that before she said she felt fine. It did not ease his fear of seeing her there in the snow; and thinking her dead. "Your lips where blue; did you know that? That you were dying. There in the snow; you were ice." He didn't think she understood; how she looked when he found her. When he had to pull her from the snow that covered her and see her unwakeable.
It was how dead bodies where. No life in them; stiff from the cold. "Do you know what is was like to pull your body from the snow; knowing you were dead?" He asked; slowly his voice becoming less calm; more angry. "To near freeze my own parts off because you were so cold in my arms?" She said she was fine; and he wondered if she was not planning to try again. Better prepared. He didn't think she ever learned from things; and he knew that the only way to keep her was to lock her up. And he was tempted to do it. When he spoke again a few moments later his voice was more calm again. "You will be locked into your rooms for a few days; and the door will only be unlocked to feed you. After that; if you do anything so foolish as disappear again; you will not like the man I become when pushed to far."
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 3, 2013 15:54:50 GMT -5
She didn't know that. She had been dying? At first the cold had been so strong it had hurt, but then, as the world faded to black, the pain had gone with the light. Was that how death felt as it crept upon you? He had thought her dead when he found her. She couldn't remember. She thought she could remember something after that...was it his voice that had called to her, that had sounded so distant, so panicked. Was it his hands that had rubbed heat back into her lifeless limbs?
She was shocked by his anger. Not at her endangering his men, or his bird, or even himself... he was angry because she had endangered her own life. Because he had thought her dead. Was she really such a valuable prisoner to him? But that wasn't what the look in his eyes said, that wasn't why he was angry. Her eyes widened as she watched him yell at her, feeling uncomfortably detached as it dawned on her that he actually cared about her. "I... I heard your voice. While I was..." Her rough voice trailed off, not knowing what words to use. Sleeping seemed wrong, but so did dead.
His calm voice scared her more than his angry one had. He would keep her locked up... until she recovered, she supposed. The threat about the man he would become made her stomach clench involuntarily, wondering with a kind of horrific fascination what he would do then. Did he really care about her? What would he do if she disobeyed? She doubted her curiosity would be enough to make her dare to try again, but she knew it would plague her thoughts. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 3, 2013 17:49:41 GMT -5
Heard his voice? Viktor paused a moment to try to think of what was said. He wasn't sure. He only knew that when he found her; he had known she was dead; and by some greater force she was not. He had felt part of the coldness when he had climbed into the tent with her; as his heat seeped into her; in turn her coldness touched him. He vaguely recalled wrapping his arms around her; and holding her face to his. Pressing his skin to her's in the poor attempt to keep her alive.
Did she know she had been all but nude with him? Did she know they'd spent an hour that way? "What words do you think you heard me say?" He asked; trying to figure out if this was a good thing or bad. He did not want her under his skin; he had to give distance between them; and he did nto want her to know she had any sort of power of him.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 4, 2013 1:37:32 GMT -5
She tried to think back on her blurry recollections of the darkness, the words that she could hardly hear, the warmth of a body pressed against hers, but it was so indistinct, she couldn't really remember. "I don't remember...I think I heard my name." That seemed the only thing she could make out, her mind was fuzzy, both from the aftereffects of her ordeal and the alcohol they'd given her to warm her up. She couldn't remember what he had said, but she wondered why he wanted to know what she thought he'd said.
"What did you say?" She asked curiously, he ought to remember, shouldn't he? He hadn't been out cold at the time. She was still reeling with the revelation that he actually cared whether she lived or died, so now this just added another layer to the mystery. What could he have said that he didn't want her to remember? Or... maybe he did want her to know? She was very confused by everything that had happened, and that only seemed to be getting worse. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 4, 2013 18:16:01 GMT -5
Good; she did not remember. It would make it easier to lie and pretend he said nothing. "A man says many things; when he finds a woman dead; that he might not mean." It was not a lie; but it wasn't the truth. She was getting under his skin; and he was growing wary of the power she held over him. This was the reason he did not contact his family; this was why no one knew who they were; or if they were alive. If someone held that power over you; they were your weakness.
She was tired; and he was still on edge. "You should rest. You will need it to gain your strength back." Viktor did not however go to move. He stood there; still watching her. Looking at her face; as if he wasn't sure she was still completely 'fine'. "I will make sure someone brings up more wood; to make sure you keep warm enough." And still he did not move to leave.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 5, 2013 3:47:27 GMT -5
And just what did that mean? Her brow furrowed in confusion at his words, wondering what kinds of things men said that they didn't mean that he didn't want to tell her. His reluctance to tell her only made her want to know more, and she tilted her head at him curiously. So he had said something he didn't mean... but that could be any number of things. She was still struggling with the simple idea that he cared about her as more than a hostage, so assuming he had said something more was a little difficult.
She was still considering saying something, when he changed the subject. She didn't argue, because she did feel tired, despite having just woken up, her energy felt sapped. She nodded when he told her he'd have more wood brought up, to keep the fires lit, but when he didn't move from where he stood, neither did she. Did he have more he wished to say? Or was it something that he didn't want to say that kept him there? Since he wasn't leaving and he wasn't speaking, she decided it couldn't hurt to ask. "What did you say that you might not have meant?" [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 7, 2013 19:56:14 GMT -5
Bloody hell! She would not leave it alone! Viktor watched her; trying to think of something to give her that would create distance between them; or would give her reason to think he was not under her power as much as he was finding he was. Something damning. He moved forward to her; intending to lean over her and used his size and strength to silence her; as he told her the words that came to mind.
Standing there; looking down at her seated at his feet. He was going to tell her anything he had too to make her shut up; and understand how things were between them! Anything. But as he stood there; looking at her there; No words came out; he only stared at her; for a long moment; before turning and walking out of the room. Madding woman! He would return later; when this day was not so fresh between them.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 7, 2013 22:33:59 GMT -5
She looked up at him as he approached her, she wasn't afraid even though he towered over her; why go to so much trouble to bring her back only to hurt her now? She couldn't read the expression in his face, though, so she waited for him to give his answer, but instead, he turned around and stalked out of the room without a word. She blinked, watching him go, well that wasn't what she expected. Now she was even more curious about what he had said... but she didn't think trying to follow him would be wise.
He said she was going to be locked in for the next few days, and she felt too weak to argue anyway. She finished her drink, but she didn't want to go back to sleep. That was how it had felt when she was outside, in the cold...just like going to sleep. A sleep she could not wake up from, and almost hadn't. She curled up on the couch instead, wrapped in her blanket, and watched the fire flicker in the hearth, trying to resist the urge to fall asleep. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 8, 2013 14:53:23 GMT -5
It was three days later; when Viktor sent a maid up to Syren's rooms with the message that she was rise; dress; and join him for breakfast. An early one; for the sun was not even up yet. He was leaving on a hunt toward the north; and he was not leaving until he made sure she was well; and planning to not escape the moment he left the castle unattended. He also that since her father was gone from this world; and it seemed her mother would not be arriving in as much time as they had thought she would be here; that he was going to have to find her something to wear.
His plan was to let her have something made; as long it it kept her warm but did not cover her as much as a coat would; against the cold. If she got cold; she could damn well stay closer to the fires. In his smaller privet room that served as both dinning; and office; and throne room at the moment; Artemis was on a stand near the fire; while Viktor was readying his outer clothing for the hunting trip. Oil treated skins; kept the melted snow from soaking him; furs kept the heat from his body inside the suit. It was tight fitting to allow easier movements; and was painted white to make him; as well as the others; blend with the white snow.
Hearing the door open behind him; he turned and walked to his table; lifting his drink while inspecting the award hostage of war. "Lady Summer; good to see you looking pinker then the snow now." His tone suggested it wasn't a complement; but a reminder.
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Syren de Winter
Member
Queen Of Winter Land Former Princess of Summer Land [/color]
Posts: 156
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Post by Syren de Winter on Feb 8, 2013 15:40:07 GMT -5
Syren didn't sleep well the next few nights; her dreams were plagued with ice and snow... and more frighteningly, nothing at all. She was lost in a blizzard from which there was no escape, and then it all went dark again, before she woke up in a cold sweat. She found herself trying not to fall asleep, and then regretting it when she did. She wanted something to occupy her mind, but she still wasn't allowed to leave her room, and she found herself going more than a little stir crazy. She wasn't going to walk back out into the snow again, but she couldn't bear to be locked up in here anymore.
She was dreaming of the blizzard when the maid came to rouse her, yelling out loud as the woman shook her by the shoulders, yanking her out of the frozen wastes and back to the relative warmth of the world. She blinked, taking a deep breath as the startled maid backed off, and then hurriedly explained her orders. So now he finally wanted her to come out and play nice, did he? She thought about refusing, but she was so desperate to get out of this room that she didn't dare.
She entered the dining room somewhat hesitantly, glancing around until she saw him, her eyes falling on the white suit curiously. She rolled her eyes but smiled with feigned amusement at his comment, closing the door behind her. "Going somewhere?" She asked, gesturing towards the snow suit. It was obviously not made for indoor wear. [/color]
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Post by Viktor de Winter on Feb 8, 2013 15:49:39 GMT -5
"North;" He explained in one word; watching her closely. On the table was some meat; and soup; as well as a pitcher of warming ale. Men ate their fill; but Viktor warmed most not to over drink. Not only was eating out of the suit to relive yourself a loss of heat; and leaving you open for attack; but it dulled a man's alertness. With the smallest of beast out there; thrice their size; they needed to be alert. "Seems we are in need of meat; and Artemis and I are the best hunters here."
Which brought him to his point; "While I am away; I expect you to behave." No running off; no doing anything foolish. "There will be no one to give chase; and bring you back when you are too cold to move." Meaning she'd be on her own. "You will be out of your room; but if you test my men; they have their orders." She would be locked back in.
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